episode_0076

76. A Lioness is Fiercer Than a Lion

The musicians who had left returned, and the banquet began.

Familiar yet exhilarating medieval music flowed through the air, and the clinking of glasses could be heard everywhere.

The start of a banquet meant purely for enjoyment, not the intense political battles from moments ago.

People quenched their thirst with delicious meat dishes made by an outstanding chef and fine wine.

Some, unable to resist the excitement, even danced like Taisie.

Grace’s generals drank alcohol as if it were water.

A warm atmosphere.

Beautiful women suited such a banquet far more than a battlefield.

Lost in such thoughts, I sipped grape juice instead of wine.

As the mood reached its peak, Erica giggled and began boasting about me.

“Don’t you know how big our fox’s bag of tricks is?”

Erica slapped my back energetically, signaling me to speak.

In response, Liliana slightly bowed her head, playing along with Erica’s words.

“I’ve heard his influence is truly remarkable. There isn’t a soul in the empire who doesn’t know of him.”

“How very astute of you! Haha!”

Erica burst into laughter, seemingly utterly pleased by Liliana’s words.

Between sips of wine, her deep blue eyes rolled playfully before fixing on me.

“Our adorable little fox, won’t you share just one trick from that bag of yours?”

“Uh… what kind of….”

“Anything! Come on!”

Like a cat feigning affection, Erica pressed her head close to mine and cutely urged me.

I thought I heard a faint *crack* from the cup Liliana was holding—must have been my imagination…?

Glancing subtly toward the sound, Liliana wore a gentle, almost saintly smile.

Well, kind-hearted Liliana wouldn’t do such a thing.

Anyway, since Erica had asked, it was my turn to answer.

What could I suggest right now?

It had to be helpful, yet shouldn’t overlap with urban planning.

Something that didn’t require immediate hard labor but needed time to mature would be ideal.

Something that could start right away but would yield sweet fruits later…

Ah!

Clapping my hands, I made my proposal to Erica.

“How about selective breeding?”

“Oh?”

Twirling her glass elegantly, Erica stirred the wine.

Seemingly intrigued, she pressed me for details.

“Elaborate.”

“Well, you know how good-looking parents tend to have good-looking children?

It’s like that—breeding fat pigs together to create a fatter breed.

Same for cows, chickens, and sheep.”

“Hmm….”

Erica pondered for a moment, exhaling thoughtfully.

“Similar to how we use prize stallions as studs for warhorses… It would surely be effective.

An interesting idea, but what about the food shortage, my fox?”

Pointing out the flaw in my plan, Erica questioned me.

But hadn’t we already resolved the issue of meat supply?

I confidently replied.

“Don’t we already have plenty of chickens?”

“Chickens? …Ah, the poultry farms. Heh…!”

Erica let out a stifled laugh.

Then, ruffling my head wildly, she praised me.

“Hahaha, our clever fox! Oh, Liliana Pendleton—you wouldn’t know since it’s *our* business—but our fox built poultry farms for mass chicken farming.”

“…I see.”

Erica emphasized the word *our* as if drawing a line.

Then, hugging me like a beloved stuffed toy, she turned to Arys, the administrative officer, for confirmation.

“Arys! What’s the current chicken situation?”

“For military canned rations, we harvested 500 chickens from one poultry farm two months ago.”

“And the rest?”

“Four other poultry farms remain. The 2,000 chickens have doubled to 4,000.

Assuming this doubling rate persists, we expect roughly 256,000 chickens in a year if none are harvested.”

“Hahaha! What a lucky charm you are!”

Upon hearing Arys’ calculation, Erica laughed heartily, pinching my cheeks like sticky rice cakes.

Doting on me, she revisited the flaw in selective breeding and dismantled it systematically.

“Selective breeding requires surplus livestock…

If we supplement meat shortages with chicken for now, we’ll eventually have enough to spare.

Later, flooding the market with cheap chicken will reduce demand for pork, mutton, and beef.

That surplus can then be used for selective breeding.”

“An excellent plan.

I hadn’t considered quantifying livestock like warhorses—shame on me.”

Arys gazed at me with deep admiration.

Truthfully, even entertaining selective breeding in the early medieval era, the 800s, was absurd…

Back then, even human food was scarce—livestock feed wasn’t a priority.

Who would’ve had the luxury to breed selectively?

When starvation loomed, you ate whatever you had.

Even with my knowledge, it would’ve been impossible without prior groundwork.

Without guano fertilizer boosting crop yields and mixed feed, it wouldn’t have worked.

I hadn’t planned it from the start—just threw the idea out because it seemed feasible.

But love must have blinded her.

Erica grinned slyly, cupped my cheeks, and locked eyes with me.

Her small, cherry-like lips entered my vision.

The sweet scent of honey and alcohol from her lips teased my nose.

“My fox, I have another question.”

“…Yes?”

“Ever seen the massive river next to Frezia?”

Setting aside improper thoughts, I recalled.

There was an enormous river beside it—almost as wide as the Han River, likely over 1 km across.

We even marched across its frozen surface when heading to the Penrose region.

Nodding to confirm, I looked back at Erica.

With the eager expression of a child, she met my gaze and asked.

“With the construction materials used for the apartments… Could we build a sturdy bridge across it?”

…

Well, another task wouldn’t hurt.

Erica was just drunk—lack of restraint was expected.

No way someone of her noble stature would have feelings for a commoner like me.

Maybe my self-esteem had risen slightly after Vivian and Adele…

Hiding my slight disappointment and bittersweet feelings,

I answered Erica, who still held my cheeks.

“It’s possible.”

“I’m serious.

This is part of a grand plan to develop uncharted lands and double Frezia’s size.

The bridge must withstand heavy traffic, last long, and handle large crowds without issue.

Can you do it?”

I nodded again.

Concrete + rebar techniques from the apartments were divine—such structures were invincible.

Though we’d need plenty of steel cables, a suspension bridge would absolutely work.

With Huldra sisters as human 3D printers, plus Mr. Antre and Ordreve, failure was near impossible.

Seeing my nod, Erica’s lips twitched.

Finally, unable to hold back, her mouth twisted into a smirk.

“You adorable, cunning fox…!”

“…Eep!”

Erica finally gave in and pressed her lips to mine.

Not so much a lovers’ kiss as a childish peck—more like a straight-up lip collision.

Drunk and uncontrolled, Erica crashed her lips against mine.

But she didn’t stop there—smothering my cheeks with kisses.

“Sooo cute—I wanna gobble you up♡”

“Aah….”

Affectionate kisses.

But it felt less like romantic affection and more like doting on a cute puppy.

Like when you see an adorable dog and just want to nibble and play with it.

Exactly like that.

Though the initial lip bump stung, it wasn’t unpleasant.

While Erica showered me with affection,

“Stop.”

A cold voice echoed through the banquet hall.

So unfamiliar, I nearly mistook it for someone else’s.

But the speaker was Liliana Pendleton—always gentle and warm.

Unable to control her expression momentarily, her pupils shook before she regained her saintly smile.

“P-Please stop, Former Duchess Erica Grace.”

“Hmm~? Ordering me around?”

“A misunderstanding.

I merely feared rumors might mar this joyous celebration—dared not stay silent.”

Liliana replied kindly, so convincingly concerned one wouldn’t suspect otherwise.

But Erica’s expression began to shift.

Like a lioness spotting prey, she curled her lips eerily.

Stopping her kisses, she hugged me tighter and addressed Liliana.

“‘Mine’ to do with as I please—why interfere?”

At Erica’s words, Liliana’s smile cracked.

Her trembling lips betrayed immense strain, yet her voice remained tender as she admonished Erica.

“As the scriptures say: God proclaimed mankind belongs to Him.

Humans thrive by leaning on one another—none exist in isolation; humility is key.

Nobility are not rulers but stewards of the people—those who disdain talent shall never ascend.

Spurn talent, and the foundation crumbles.

But cling too tight, and like sand, it slips away.”

“Hmm?”

Erica tilted her head, amused.

Likely quoting religious doctrine—not even Erica could openly refute that without being branded a heretic.

Given how even armies marched with priests, this world’s church held considerable power…

A flawless argument, showcasing her piety and intellect—clever rhetoric.

Despite her saintly demeanor, Liliana deftly cornered Erica with words.

But Erica smirked mockingly, undaunted by scholarship or rhetoric, and countered.

“A sound argument… Yet even freed, he wouldn’t go to you.”

Erica artfully twisted the topic—from moralizing about forcing bonds to attacking Liliana directly.

The best rebuttal would’ve been scolding the topic shift…

But Liliana, prickled for unknown reasons, reacted.

“…Why assume so?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Erica grinned teasingly and clasped my hand, interlacing our fingers to show Liliana.

“I hold hands with my beloved fox—”

Then, like before, Erica’s lips landed on my cheek.

A playful peck this time.

Satisfied, she licked her lips, shrugged, and added.

“—exchange kisses, share joyful talks of work and private matters…

Haven’t we forged deep bonds?”

“But…!”

Liliana tried to protest, but Erica, triumphant, puffed out her modest chest and delivered the final blow.

“You’re nothing to him, aren’t you?”

Liliana’s ever-smiling face shattered.

Her vibrant red eyes darkened unnervingly as her lips trembled with feeble excuses.

“We’ve known each other… nearly six years….”

“Met just once, didn’t you?”

“Bonds are….”

“I’m the one who’s spent time with him, no?”

Erica smirked, rising from her seat.

She placed a hand on Liliana’s shoulder—coolly staring back—in a gesture almost affectionate.

Speaking warmly, as if genuinely concerned.

“How pitiful. Ah… Could it be ‘delusions of possession’?

Believing what isn’t yours… My, apologies.

With talent like yours, greed overtakes me… Silly worry, I suppose!

Hah! If mistaken, I humbly apologize.”

Still grinning playfully, Erica tightened her grip on Liliana’s shoulder.

Her earlier teasing vanished—replaced by icy eyes as she pressed further.

Lighthearted tone, yet a crushing atmosphere.

Soft voice sharp as a razor.

Staring into Liliana’s hardened expression, Erica uttered lethally.

“What? Gonna hit me?”

“……”